Greyhound

Greyhound

Description

Quiet, intelligent, and gentle dogs. May chase and potentially harm cats or wildlife. Greyhounds learn well with reward-based training using treats or favorite toys. Often enjoy dog sports such as lure coursing, racing, agility, tracking, rally and competitive obedience.

History

Today's Greyhound is strikingly similar to the domesticated hunters that appeared in temple drawings as far back as 6000 BC. The Greyhound also appears in various Celtic, British, Irish and Scottish images and literature dating back to the 9th century. The Romans believed that Greyhounds came from Western Europe while the Celts believed they came from Greece. In fact, in Greece they referred to Greyhounds as Greek Hounds. Greyhounds make incredible watchdogs and it is believed that they once traveled with Middle-Eastern nomadic tribes to protect the perimeter of their camps. The Spanish are credited with bringing the first Greyhounds to the New World during the 16th century, using the dogs to frighten off Native American tribes. The greyhound, with its hunter-coursing abilities, was used in the 1800's for controlling the jack rabbit population. It was at this time that farmers recognized the dogs' competitive nature and Greyhound racing became established. The American Kennel Club has recognized the Greyhound since 1885.